Few people in the country will know the name "Devil" John Wright. He was mostly known in Kentucky and Tennessee. He was born in Kentucky in 1844 and died in 1931. At 17 he joined the Confederate army in Kentucky and served all four years. After the War John and his uncle Martin VanBuren joined the Robinson Circus; John was a sharpshooter. Later in life John became a Pinkerton Agent for several years. In Kentucky, he was known as the man to call on when law and order was required. He was known as a tenacious man hunter and that is how he got the Name "Devil" John. It is said that he never gave up when on the trail of a bad man and, therefore, was like the DEVIL HIMSELF when on their trail. He was also called "The Tall Sycamore" and the "Law of Pine Mountain".
He was a lawman in Southern Kentucky and Virginia when crime was rampant in the area from the post CW days until his death in 1931. He also served as Sheriff of Wise County, Virginia in later years. This photograph was taken by H. L. Hartley, Wargap, Tenn.
